Do you want to make your room look bigger? I have some tips for you!

I’ve lived in both New York and a small cottage in Philadelphia, so I’ve experienced the highs and lows of compact living. When you decorate your home correctly, regardless of its size, it will look breezy and stunning.

However, I can understand why you might feel cramped and even claustrophobic when you are in an extremely tight space, and I’m here to help you get through this. In today’s article, we’ll discuss ways to make your room look bigger. I have a couple of tips for you, and they’re easy to implement but will make a huge difference.

It all comes down to using three basic concepts—scale, light, and movement—to deceive the eye into seeing more space. So, if you’re ready to give your home a sweet and simple makeover, keep reading. Without further ado, here are the best tips to make your room look bigger!

1. Keep a low profile

Since furniture that’s lower to the ground leaves more space above it, it will give off the impression of openness in a room. A simple change like this will make such a big difference. To make things even more different, opt for a loft bed in the bedroom or try putting a mattress right on the ground.

Bring out your inner Mad Men with low-to-the-ground midcentury items in your gorgeous living room. Or, if you prefer more romantic accents, 19th-century furniture has a low profile, and it looks amazing. You can get the most beautiful pieces at flea markets in your city or you can look them up on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.

2. Scale it down

When you furnish a small space, it’s all about finding the right proportions, especially if you want to make your room look bigger. If a piece touches the room’s edges, whether up or sideways, it’s probably too big. To keep things breezy, leave a little space between your furniture and the walls. The only exception is a bed—tucking a queen-size bed between two walls creates a cozy sleeping nook! One of my favorite details, to be honest.

You should avoid bulky furniture that hogs all the space. A sleek sofa or chair offers just as much comfort as its oversized counterpart but takes up way less room. Besides that, it makes your space look more elegant and polished, and who doesn’t like that?

And if you’re dreaming of a big statement piece, like art or a mirror, hang it on the wall instead of placing it on the floor. This way, you keep your living area open and spacious! Speaking of mirrors, if you’re on the hunt for one, I can’t recommend this gorgeous one enough! It doubles as a decor item just perfectly!

3. Keep it white and simple

We all know that white makes everything look better, and if you want to give off the impression that your room looks bigger, keep things white and simple. It opens up a space, giving it a light, airy, and peaceful feeling. The impression of the clouds is further enhanced by painting the ceiling and walls the same shade of white. Moreover, it helps to blur the line between the wall and the ceiling, drawing your gaze upward and giving off the impression that the ceiling is taller.

Last but not least, white is a wonderful color option because it emphasizes the architecture and simplifies a room, which is important in small spaces that might easily look cluttered. And the best part is, it fits perfectly with any furniture or decor style you love.

4. Say goodbye to drapes

Even if your curtains don’t stop your eye from taking a look outside, it’s just extra heavy material in the room. If you want to make your room look bigger, more stylish, and put together, but still have privacy, consider cloth blinds, lightweight mesh, or shutters.

If curtains are more your style, go for an extendable rod that extends well past the window frame so you can fully open up your windows whenever you want.

5. Use breezy fabrics

Heavy fabrics, such as wool and upholstery, give a nice touch to your space, but if you’re not blessed with square footage, it might give off the impression of a cramped zone. If you can, it’s best to avoid heavy fabrics and materials that weigh your space down and absorb light.

Focus on breezy materials that are lightweight and in subtle colors, such as linen. This small detail will make your room look bigger and airier. It’s a subtle change, but it will make a big difference.

6. Don’t overdo it with items

One of the simplest methods to make your room look bigger is to keep everything neat and straightforward.  Suppose that the area you want to give a makeover to is your living room. It won’t look as neat and breezy when you have lots of things lying around your couch and coffee table, and your shelves are almost breaking due to the heaviness of the items you’ve placed there.

Decluttering and cleaning your room can easily make it look bigger. Having too much stuff can make it look crowded, so try to keep things minimal or group them by theme for a more organized feel.

Now that we’ve got your floors and furniture covered, it’s time to show a bit of TLC to your walls. Opt for clean and subtle hues to make the space brighter and more elegant, such as white, pale yellow, baby blue, and lilac, and only have one mirror and one art object, so everything looks polished.

7. Have a clear pathway

When you’re dealing with a small room, it’s natural to push everything to the walls. But guess what? This often backfires, making the space feel even smaller and harder to navigate. To create the illusion of a larger room, arrange your furniture so people can move freely across one side. It’s like magic—it just works!

8. Focus on the vertical

Whether you have a tall shelf, a vertical shiplap, or a hanging lighting fixture, having more elements like this will give off the impression that your space is bigger and brighter. It also enhances the feeling of flow and movement, making everything seem perfectly blended.

9. Focus on the horizontal

Going back to the movement, you can achieve the same thing even if you don’t have that many vertical objects. All you have to do is focus on the horizontal. Anything that directs your gaze in an intentional and organized manner, such as skinny furniture that accentuates the beautiful details in your home or a gorgeous mirror (like the one we’ve previously talked about) that reflects light and a view back into the space, will give off the impression that the space is larger.

Your gaze is naturally drawn to the things in a room, so why not use this to your advantage and create a more open, airy vibe?

10. Show a little leg

The last but not least step of today’s article is showing a little leg with little furniture. I’ve already bored you with this information, but it’s important, so I’ll say it one more time: the key to giving off the impression of greater space is to create a feeling of movement and openness.

Speaking of that, streamlined furniture looks like it’s about to float in space because it lets air and light move under and around it. It makes your room look bigger while also creating an effortless, chic look. A tip to keep in mind!

Do you know any other easy ways to make your room look bigger? I’m constantly looking for the best methods to give my home a makeover without breaking the bank or putting too much effort into it! So if you know anything, please let me know in the comments below! Until next time, here’s another great article for you: 9 Things to Do at Home Before Leaving for Vacation